A Travel Price Comparison for Costa Rica Tamarindo vs. Puerto Viejo for Nightlife, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a scenic, laid back, and chill town. Tamarindo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Tamarindo travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a laid back, relaxed, and mellow town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Puerto Viejo. Although Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are both popular with visitors, Puerto Viejo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Tamarindo is more touristy than Puerto Viejo and is popular for its surfing, wildlife, and leatherback sea turtles. Puerto Viejo is popular for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood. It is also home to .

How is Tamarindo different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Plenty of people visit the decent sights and museums in both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo.

Tamarindo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Aside from a few art galleries, there aren't many real museums around town.

While most people don't head to Puerto Viejo specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

Is the Food Better in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Tamarindo. There's a combination of beach bars and restaurants in town that offer local cuisine and international options. Many places have a laid back vibe that fits with the town's atmosphere but you'll also find some more upscale options.

Puerto Viejo is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

Both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are excellent when it comes to partying.

Tamarindo offers plenty to do in the evening. The town has beach bars, dance clubs, and regular parties that attract tourists and locals alike. The evening has a vibrant atmosphere that is perfect for unwinding after a day of surfing or swimming.

Puerto Viejo has a large number of nightlife venues. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Tamarindo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Puerto Viejo has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Tamarindo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo have excellent beaches worth visiting.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Tamarindo. The beaches are popular with surfers but the currents can be strong so swimmers should use caution. The golden sand and beautiful setting make this a fun and chill beach destination. There are also plenty of water sports to choose from.

The beaches at Puerto Viejo attract visitors from all over. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, Tamarindo is not a hiking destination.

Puerto Viejo has hiking trails worth exploring. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Tamarindo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are good shopping destinations.

Tamarindo offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find most of the souvenir shops along Diria Grand Boulevard. There are a few upscale clothing boutiques and jewelry shops as well.

Puerto Viejo has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are somewhat similar when it comes to the good scenery.

Tamarindo is a beautiful place to visit, too. The golden sand beaches offer a beautiful setting where you can relax and soak up a chill beachfront vibe.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are both excellent destinations for the whole family.

Tamarindo is a very kid-friendly town. The golden beaches offer a great escape for families. The surf can be a bit strong, but the kids will love seeing the sea turtles or going horseback riding. There are also beginning surfing lessons available.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Puerto Viejo. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Tamarindo is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples will enjoy romantic horseback rides along the beach, sunset cruises, and romantic meals. For the adventurous, there's surfing lessons and wildlife tours.

Puerto Viejo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are excellent destinations for backpackers.

Tamarindo is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels in the area and many wonderful activities that let you experience everything that Costa Rica has to offer.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo offer good public transit options.

Tamarindo has a few public transit options. There are three public bus lines through town.

Puerto Viejo has some public transit options. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Tamarindo is a very walkable town. The town is easy to walk around and explore on foot.

Puerto Viejo is a very walkable destination. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Tamarindo Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Tamarindo?

How long in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Tamarindo than in Puerto Viejo. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Tamarindo, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Tamarindo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Viejo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Tamarindo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Viejo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Tamarindo if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Viejo.

One day in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

In Tamarindo, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this chill town offers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the town of Puerto Viejo. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Tamarindo is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the relaxed destination of Puerto Viejo. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

In Tamarindo, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this laid back destination offers. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxed town of Puerto Viejo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Tamarindo is a popular place to visit. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Puerto Viejo is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Tamarindo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tamarindo Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

Both Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

September to October is the dry season in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. Tamarindo usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Tamarindo often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Tamarindo is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tamarindo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to May in Tamarindo is the dry season. June to November is the hurricane season in Tamarindo. September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. Also, November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tamarindo usually receives more rain than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Tamarindo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo during autumn. Tamarindo gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tamarindo is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Tamarindo average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tamarindo as well as Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. In the winter, Tamarindo often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

Tamarindo is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Tamarindo averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Should I visit Tamarindo or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Tamarindo is December to May. June to November in Tamarindo is the hurricane season. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In April, Tamarindo usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Tamarindo gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. Tamarindo usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Tamarindo gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Tamarindo is a little warmer than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tamarindo in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo